Schalke vs Chelsea preview - Terry hopes for third time lucky
Posted Tuesday, October 22, 2013 by PA
John Terry hopes to make it third time lucky in the Champions League after missing a penalty in his first final and being absent from the second through suspension.
Speaking on Chelsea's arrival in Dusseldorf ahead of the Group E contest at Schalke on Tuesday night, Terry spoke of his desire to make amends for his penalty miss in the shootout defeat to Manchester United in 2008.
On his most recent previous visit to Germany, Terry lifted the European Cup in Munich despite taking no part in another shootout, when Chelsea beat Bayern Munich, following his semi-final dismissal at Barcelona.
It is fair to say he has unfinished business in the competition.
Terry said: "I played in one (final) and was very disappointed in the one in Moscow, but delighted for the side to go on and win it the way we did.
"But as an individual you want to be playing in those games, in those moments and that's what I'm aiming to do."
Terry admitted suffering a blow to his self-esteem last season, when interim boss Rafael Benitez favoured a central defensive partnership of Gary Cahill and Branislav Ivanovic, with David Luiz in central midfield, in part due to the skipper suffering a debilitating knee injury.
Under returning boss Jose Mourinho, Terry and Luiz have been the preferred defensive combination, with Ivanovic at right-back, but mistakes by Brazilian Luiz may result in a recall for Cahill at the Veltins Arena.
Terry, who never doubted his ability to recover top form, said: "It was the first time I've been out with a long injury. When you do get your chance, you really have to impress to stay in.
"Even I was playing well last year, scoring, I didn't maintain my place. It was quite frustrating for me.
"But the manager (Mourinho) has been great for me. My career is where it is because of this man sitting next to me.
"I'm very proud to be working with him again and the team is in a good period at the moment, we're slowly getting where we want to be."
Mourinho has made it clear from the outset that he will show no favouritism to those with whom he enjoyed success in his first spell.
Terry is out of contract at the end of the season, but steered clear of the subject of his future.
"The manager was honest with me at the start of the season and said 'listen, if you play well and stay fit, you'll be in the side'," he added.
"If that's not the case, I won't be in the side, which then puts everything else up in the air.
"I'm just concentrating on playing well, which I feel as if I'm doing at the moment. "Hopefully everything else takes care of itself."
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